Media player for TV. Digital media player

Well known to the Russian user for its processor-based media players Realtek, presents a new model of the series MovieHome named V9... In fact, the novelty is a successful development of the well-known G8, which has become the prototype for many modern HD players.

One of the features that distinguish Noontec MovieHome V9 against the general background, is to support recording video and sound from a low-frequency input, so that we can record our favorite television program or movie from a satellite or IPTV receiver, or digitize recordings from an old video camera or video player. In fact, the ability to record video is not something unique today, and is already found in some models of media players from other manufacturers. A completely different matter, the ability to connect an internal DVB-T tuner, with which it becomes possible to view and record digital TV programs, including in HD format (decoding of H.264 and MPEG2 streams is supported).

Peculiarity:

* Support for most video formats including MKV / H.264
* HD recorder and player
* DVB-T DTV receiver, EPG support (only for V9-T)

* Schedule of recording TV programs (only for V9-T)
* Internet browser (eg Picasa, Flickr, news… etc.)
* Support Wi-Fi 802.11 g / n (WiFi dongle optional)
* 1080p Full HD decoding
* ANT IN -DVB-T digital TV signal input (for V9-T only)
* LOOP-DVB-T outgoing digital TV signal (only for V9-T)
* Support for streaming playback

Appointment
* SATA 3.5 "hard drive
* HD recorder and player

Language support:
* English, Russian, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Danish, etc.

Control
* Remote control and button control panel

Firmware
* Possibility of firmware upgrade

Data transmission interface
* USB 2.0

Max. hard disk space
* up to 2 TB

Support for storage formats
* FAT32 and NTFS

Multi-card reader
* SD / MMC / XD / MS / MS pro

USB 2.0 host
* 2 pcs.

Network connection
* RJ45 10 / 100M, support for streaming playback

Audio playback
* MP3 WMA WAV ACC OGG (no DRM) AC3, FLAC, Dolby Digital, DTS Digital
* Bit rate: MP3 32kbps ~ 320kbps
* WMA: 32kbps ~ 192kbps

Video playback
* Codecs: H.264, VC-1, RM, RMVB, MPEG 1/2/4, DIVX3.x / 4.x / 5.x, Xvid
* Formats: WMV, MKV, MOV, AVI, MP4, MPG, TS / M2TS / TP / TRP, FLV, ISO, IFO

Subtitles
* Text: SSA, SMI, SRT, ASS, IDX + SUB
* Images: .sub

Graphics Format Support
* BMP / JPEG

Graphic playback mode
* Support slide view

Analog video output
* CVBS / YPbPr

Digital video output
* HDMI 1.3

Permission
* High definition up to 1080p

Audio out
* Stereo / HDMI / Optical
* Stereo, SNR> 90dB,
* Playback frequency 20-20 KHz (+/- 1dB)

Recording incoming signal
* Audio: Stereo (Left / Right)
* Video: Composite (CVBS)

Video recording format
* MPEG 2

Recording quality
* For NTSC 720 X 480 @ 30fps or for PAL 720 X 576 @ 25fps

Quality level
* HQ / SP / LP / EP / SLP
* Editing recorded video clips

Recording timer
* Timer recording or one button recording

AC input
* 100V ~ 220V, 50 / 60HZ

DC output
* 12V 3A

Device weight
* 1kg. (Without hard drive)

Device dimensions:
* 214 x 163 x 52.5 mm

Instead of an introduction, we would like to draw the attention of buyers to the reduction in price and progress of Smart TV systems over the past year. The ability to connect storage devices and wide support for all kinds of formats are available today even in the most inexpensive TVs. This is great, but the functionality of the boxes threatens entry-level media players. Up to complete disappearance.

Players are different

Today, several classes of devices are capable of injecting multimedia functions into televisions: the successors of DVD players, computers and tablets paved their way to television screens.

The most time consuming type of media players are nettop models. These avant-garde mini-computers impress with their compactness and stability, and the quality of the components, the performance of ultra-low-voltage processors and the capabilities of desktop operating systems are not comparable to the potential of other media players. All the power of computer browsers, content playback programs and file-sharing networks today can be obtained within the framework of a quiet and compact "box".

Nettops: media players outside - computers inside

The problem is that the everyday use of these essentially desktops is hard to cope with the tasks of a set-top box. Choosing and buying a remote control, searching for a suitable media envelope and setting up a DVB tuner will require serious patience, and therefore will turn the project into a "long-term construction". We leave this method to experienced and determined fans of the PC platform, and we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the world of nettops in numerous news and reviews on the site.

The next subtype of media players are devices based on Android OS. Attempts to endow TVs with the functionality of smartphones and tablets have become a trend in recent years: familiar and ready-to-use applications, adaptation of the OS to high-resolution displays and inexpensive processors have positively affected the distribution of such devices. The disadvantage, as in the case of nettops, is the mediocre adaptation of the system to the new controls: manufacturers have to "reinvent" the Android interface, taking into account the lack of touch input, and users have to get used to the specifics of using the Air Mouse "lazy".

Mini-computers of the Android Stick format stand apart from such media players. These tiny (the size of a large flash drive) devices lack a digital tuner and only have an HDMI connector. But they can boast of an affordable price and a powerful operating system.

HDMI Stick - compact media players based on Android OS

The main role in the media player market is played by devices powered by Sigma Designs and Realtek platforms - direct descendants of hardware DVD and Blu-ray players. The loss of an optical disc drive is compensated by the introduction of streaming services, "omnivorous" and, sometimes, a standard connector for the HDD in the case of the media player. Rather than being a computer device, this class of devices rarely allows the installation of third-party applications and services. The efforts of the developers lie in the plane of ease of management and picture quality.

Classic IPTV set-top boxes are still relevant today

Our guide will focus on the last two categories of devices.

In the dark forest of characteristics

There are many ways to feel about buying a media player. Nothing prevents you from being guided only by the budget for the purchase of the device. And this approach does not necessarily lead to disappointment, since the functionality of even the most budget models today meets the needs of an undemanding user. We will try to outline the priorities for those who want to get the most out of the media player with a minimum investment.

Interfaces

The variety of interfaces is dwindling in the digital broadcasting age, so a TV equipped with HDMI input and support for resolutions from HD Ready and higher is an ideal candidate for connecting a media player. The digital jack will provide maximum video signal quality and greatly simplify the multi-channel audio output to your home theater. The HDMI specification allows digital sound to be transmitted to acoustics unchanged (bitstream technology), which makes it possible to use the full potential of a high-quality audio system on media players powered by Sigma and Realtek platforms. The situation is worse with consoles based on ARM Cortex chipsets. In their case, the sound potential is most often limited to the transmission of a stereo stream (LPCM) already processed on the set-top box to the TV.

When it comes to connecting a media player to an outdated TV, the situation is complicated many times over. In the absence of an HDMI connector, you will have to choose from the following analog interfaces:

• Composite output. Indicated on devices as AV Out or RCA. Has been using tulips, which have been familiar for the past two decades, to output video and stereo sound. The sound and video quality with this connection method leaves much to be desired, and whenever possible we recommend using alternative connectors.

Composite interface

• Component output. Indicated on devices as YUV Out or YPbPr. It is based on all the same "tulips", but the video signal is transmitted through several cables at once, and the resulting picture quality is the best among all available analog interfaces.

Component interface

• SCART. In fact, it is not an interface, but a "container" for transmitting RGB images with low image quality by modern standards. Rarely found in the number of connectors of media players and, as a rule, is supplied as an adapter from a composite connector or S-Video interface.

SCART connector

• S-Video. Least common interface in media players and TVs. Structurally, S-Video is a slightly better alternative to the composite connector. This development did not gain much popularity among TV manufacturers, and today it often catches the eye among the connectors of outdated computer video accelerators.

S-Video connector

Media players with an analogue tuner on board have practically disappeared from retail, and are replaced by support for the DVB-T2 digital TV broadcasting standard. The digital television network in Russia is rapidly expanding, but the widespread distribution of broadcasting in this standard is still far away. The presence of a digital signal in a particular locality should be checked in advance on the website of the operator of the all-Russian digital TV broadcasting or from local providers.

Form factor and network communications

The trick familiar from VCRs with identifying the flagship "by eye" is no longer relevant. In the segment of media players, the most bulky model is not always the most productive. The dimensions of the new players are dictated only by the number of connectors for connecting to a TV, as well as by the presence of a compartment for a hard drive.

You shouldn't unconditionally give preference to media players with an HDD slot either: in the absence of a "home video library", this function will soon cease to be in demand. Connecting a media player to a PC, constantly removing a drive to record new files or painstaking work with the web interface of a torrent client is tiring. But playing files from the local network will be faster and more efficient. In the case of a mini-PC based on Android, an additional argument for such use is the characteristic shortage of ports for connecting drives: the only USB connector is occupied by a wireless keyboard, and a weak current in the device does not allow connecting a USB Hub without power from the network.

Capacious storage on board will shelter any collection of media files

Fortunately, media players without support for data exchange over the network are rare today. Even budget models are able to offer an Ethernet connector or Wi-Fi support for receiving content via DLNA or Samba server. If possible, you should use the RJ-45 connector - wireless playback of Full HD video will require Wi-Fi 802.11n support and a productive router in line-of-sight conditions.

An unambiguous advantage of Android-based media players is the support of social functions: clients of Facebook, VKontakte, Skype and other messengers work quickly and are always updated to the latest versions. Some media players are equipped with support for webcams via USB-OTG, and the second half of 2014 was marked by the release of the Android Stick with a video camera and a microphone in the device body itself. Alas, the Wi-Fi transmitter power of the mini PC is poor, and to play 1080p video over the network, you will most often need a USB to Ethernet adapter.

Playback formats

With some reservations, we can say that the "omnivorousness" of modern media players has reached almost peak levels. Over the past few years, there have been no models on the market that would not be able to play video files in Divx / Xvid, H.264 and MPEG 1/2 formats. As for audio files, it is worth paying attention to the presence of support for high-quality audio in DTS, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD formats. Some media players lack support for sound in this format (due to the lack of a license for the codec or design features of the chipset), so it is better to avoid the unpleasant surprise in the form of a “silent movie” in advance.

As for containers, popular AVI, MP4 and MKV are easily played even in budget models, which means that any modern model is suitable for watching movies in DVDRip, BDRip, BDRip-AVC and BDRemux standards.

Problems with the selection of a media player haunt only fans of "full-format" Blu-ray and volumetric video. 3D movies are often distributed as ISO images or as file folders. A truly convenient playback of such a video can only be provided by media players supporting the ISO BD3D standard, but with the proviso that navigation through the movie will be carried out through the simplified BD Lite menu. Support for 3D HD-video in other media players will be limited to "heuristic" launch of the M2TS file from the folder structure or the complete lack of support for the standard. Unfortunately, support for the full specification of Blu-ray has sunk into oblivion along with optical discs. An aggressive lobbying for copy protection called Cinavia played a part in this.

Devices developed in close cooperation with content providers stand apart - in the pursuit of copyright compliance and stimulating purchases in online cinemas, media players receive a limited list of compatible codecs and / or streaming services that are relevant only to foreign audiences.

Governing bodies

The interface of the Sigma SDK and Realtek SDK operating systems was developed taking into account the capabilities of a standard remote control: therefore, controlling such media players does not require additional skills from users of a TV or game console. Support for computer keyboards and mice is present in many models, but it does not represent any practical use - multi-level menus are easier and faster to master using the same remote control than using the mouse cursor.

TV comfort versus computer functionality

Android media players have a different extreme: only multifunctional remote controls with QWERTY keyboard and Air Mouse mode, which are not very ergonomic, can compensate for the lack of touch input in these products. Eventually, all Android Stick users switch to a full-size PC keyboard and mouse set - controlling the media player from the couch will never be easy.

Performance and hardware platform

The confrontation between Sigma and Realtek chipsets painfully resembles the picture in the PC processor market. Sigma Designs' platform typically comes with a finer workflow and superior synthetic performance. The stability and speed of the SMP series chipsets are overshadowed by the high cost of the platform for manufacturers - media players of equal price based on Realtek and Sigma will differ in functionality not in favor of the latter.

Realtek multimedia processors are much more flexible. Thanks to a loyal pricing policy, they have become much more widespread. As is often the case in budget products, a number of annoying shortcomings have long haunted the RTD series platforms - experienced users of media players will nod in the direction of a known flaw, when video playback at a frequency of 23.976 frames / s was accompanied by constant jerks. The next negative moment occurred due to the fault of careless manufacturers of TV-boxes: ventilation problems in models equipped with a slot for an HDD led to overheating and unstable operation of a whole family of media players. Today all these problems have been eliminated, and the competition between the two chipset manufacturers is taking place on an equal footing.

Comparison of the performance of these platforms can be done "the old fashioned way", guided only by the operating frequencies of the processor, but the lion's share of the load in the SoC of media players falls on hardware decoders. The performance of content playback for these devices is beyond the purview of benchmarks.

Nevertheless, measuring performance in "synthetics" remains the only possible way to classify SoCs. Specialized multimedia processors and competing chips based on the ARM Cortex architecture can be divided into five classes (in descending order of performance).

For buyers who are not ready to analyze the market in search of the perfect media player, we have prepared a list of current Smart TV systems for every wallet and need. These products will not necessarily include the market leaders, but the price / functionality ratio allows us to recommend these models with confidence.

Upvel UM-521TV

The UM-521TV media player is the most fortunate candidate for livening up the TV screen with social media, online entertainment and other applications for the Google platform. The quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and stock Android Jelly Bean will appeal to customers for whom timely access to the news feed and videos means much more than painstaking selection of content for long-term viewing.

TVZor TVZ100ZT

The ideology of the TVZor media player runs counter to fashion - the model belongs to a still small class of devices developed in cooperation with content providers. In the Russian market, a limited selection of streaming services is rarely successful with buyers, but TVZ100ZT has every chance to turn the tide. For just 3,000 rubles, the buyer gets a media player with a rich package, a programmable remote control with a QWERTY keyboard, a DVB-T2 tuner, an online media library and a set of connectors for connecting to a CRT or LCD TV.

Unfortunately, not a trace of the functionality of the Android system remains, and access to files on the local network is closed. On the other hand, 20 stable working IPTV channels are supplemented with a pack of free series in the online store, and support for formats for digital carriers is in no way inferior to "full-fledged" and more expensive competitors. More details with TVZor TVZ100ZT

IconBit Movie3D IPTV

IconBit Movie3D IPTV

"Functionality over performance" - the Movie3D IPTV model is based on the outdated Allwinner A20 chipset, and the proprietary shell adjacent to Android leads to extremely leisurely navigation through the device menus. In contrast to these shortcomings, the player has a rich set of functions and a reasonable price. Working with custom IPTV playlists, support for stereo pairs of the BD3D ISO standard, numerous streaming services and access to the Google Play app store cannot but appeal to thrifty shoppers. Newbies will also love the abundance of free content, while advanced Android users will appreciate root access and the ability to install third-party apps. You can learn more about IconBit Movie3D IPTV in our review.

ASUS O! Play Mini Plus

ASUS O! Play Mini Plus

In the O! Play Mini Plus, ASUS engineers have chosen not to get involved in the pursuit of smartphone features. The lack of support for Blu-ray ISO images and flaws in the online component will be accompanied by fair complaints from users. However, this model is aimed at practitioners and its main goal is the convenient playback of content from local and network drives. Gigabit Ethernet, card reader and eSATA connector allow you to receive any video and music "fully armed". The level of implementation of these functions directly speaks about the quality of the media player. The presence of a composite output will allow you to play Full HD files even on old TVs. But among enthusiasts O! Play Mini Plus is not respected, since the media player is based on the notorious revision of Realtek MD chipsets, which means that the device is completely closed for flashing at home.

Google Nexus Player

Google Nexus Player

Google presented its vision on what should be a set-top box based on the Android operating system. A model called the Nexus Player, developed in collaboration with ASUS, is finally on sale. Base Android's interface and functionality has been adapted for comfortable TV viewing and content streaming. The media player supports Google Chromecast functions, allowing you to stream videos, music and photos from your computer, smartphone or tablet to your TV screen. A distinctive feature of the interface is the automatic ranking of applications and multimedia files in accordance with the user's preferences.

The basic kit includes a multifunctional remote control with an integrated microphone, and a game pad is available at an additional cost.

Nexus Player is built on a quad-core Intel Atom platform, clocked at 1.8GHz. The graphics component is based on the Imagination PowerVR Series 6 video accelerator, and the memory subsystem has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. Wireless communications are represented by Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1, and among the communication ports there is HDMI and Micro-USB. The cost of the new item is $ 99.

Many modern TV models already have built-in devices for playing multimedia content, but their functionality may be lower than that of a separately installed media player for a TV. By connecting additional equipment, you can significantly expand the capabilities of your TV, get access to social networks and various Internet services, even from the screens of the simplest models. Therefore, many users are thinking about buying an additional TV set-top box.

Modern multimedia TV boxes have replaced VCRs and DVD / CD players. Today they:

• read almost any video and audio format;
• able to open any images;
• reproduce information from a variety of sources (portable portable storage devices, mobile gadgets, etc.);
• broadcast streaming video;
• provide an opportunity for users to access the Internet through a browser, use a large number of entertainment services;
• support uTorrent, 3D, Wi-Fi and gaming functions.

Specific functionality may vary depending on the model.

In appearance, these are small devices with different ports and a control panel. The latest versions can have a lcd display, user touch operation tool. Connection to the TV is made via HDMI cable, wireless connection or component jack.

Some devices fit and to old CRT TV types... In this case, information transfer occurs via S-Video or composite slot. It should be understood that the functionality of such a pair will be limited. Since if the media player has any capabilities, then such a TV will not be able to reproduce, for example, the FullHD or 3D format. Of course, users of modern LED TV models have more options.

Composite video output RCA and S-Video

Should you buy a media player for your TV if you have a computer?

At first glance, it might seem that such a device is a waste of money when you have a PC or laptop. After all, the computer just performs these functions. But not every electronic computing device is capable of transmitting high quality picture and sound as a widescreen LED TV will do, especially in high definition HD and FullHD, as well as Blue Ray.

You can connect a laptop or system unit to a large screen via an HDMI cable, but this is not always convenient. In addition, you often have to puzzle over setting up device synchronization, especially for streaming video or recording TV broadcasts to your computer's hard drive.

Another plus in favor of a separate set-top box - silent work... Since the computer is equipped with a cooling device, it generates a certain noise during operation. The advantages are obvious, so for connoisseurs of excellent video playback quality, you should think about how to choose a media player for your TV.

Connecting the computer system unit to the TV

What criteria should you pay attention to when choosing a modern TV set-top box

Today the market is represented by a wide range of digital TV players. To determine the choice of the most suitable device model for yourself, you should pay attention to the following criteria:

• media player interface;
• possible playback formats;
• control system;
• sources and carriers of content (support for Internet services);
• additional functionality.

Media player interface

Even before sending to the store for a new device for your TV, you need to find out the presence of ports and connectors that are available in television equipment. This information is important for choosing the method of connecting the set-top box. The most optimal and popular option today isHDMI-cable, such a connection will provide high quality video and multi-channel audio transmission. This digital connector allows you to reproduce HD and FullHD resolutions available for modern LED TV models from LG, Samsung, Sony and other manufacturers.

In the case of earlier TV models, the set-top box may need to support the following types of connectors.

1. Component output... Many well-known "tulips" are used for synchronization. A feature of such a connection is the transmission of individual video signal components through several cables, at the end of which there are three RCA connectors. In this case, only the image is transmitted, sound in stereo is connected separately.

1. Composite output... The principle of video signal transmission is similar to the previous one, but the image quality is worse. If possible, it is better to use an analog interface.
2. S— Video... Such a connector is rarely found even on CRT TVs, but in some models it is still present. The design feature and video signal transmission quality are slightly better than composite. It is based on two dividing lines that are used to transmit the luminance and chrominance signals of an image.

In addition to ports for connecting a media player to a TV, it must support and additional set of interfaces... Modern models, in addition to the obligatory HDMI and USB, may have an optical or card reader for connecting other storage media. Not all devices have a built-in HDD, but most of them allow you to connect a removable hard drive (for high-quality work, you need two USB connectors).

It is important not only to think over the way of connecting the set-top box to the TV, but also its synchronization with other devices. All necessary connectors must be present in the technical specifications of the device. Also, if necessary, you should take care of purchasing additional adapters that are not included in the media player kit.

Possible playback formats

It is no exaggeration to say that modern multimedia TV-boxes reproduce almost all video and audio formats, as well as open any images. Even the most budget devices will play popular AVI, MKV, MP4. Therefore, through most consoles, you can watch movies in BDRip (-AVC) or DVDRip standards.

The entire list of readable formats is indicated in the technical specifications.

But many inexperienced users are mistaken, evaluating the device according to the list of supported formats, without considering the concept media containers and codecs equating them. Simply put, if the set-top box supports playback of the mp4 container, this does not mean that all files with this extension will play well. They can open, for example, without sound or with noise, if the audio track is not supported. Since the concepts of media container and codec have different definitions. In the first case, this is the file format, in the second, the stream format in it.

For those who want to watch movies on their home theater in high quality or 3 formatD, it is worth choosing extended reading formats. For example, it is not uncommon for films with 3D graphics to have an ISO extension or several folders with files of different formats. And support for the ISO BD3D extension is not present in all models.

3D Media Player 3Q F370HW

Control system

In addition to supporting standard multimedia formats and optimal loading times, the media player should have Russian language menu with convenient control and navigation are fundamental factors in the analysis of this criterion. Users have the ability to control the set-top box both from the device itself and from the remote control or through a mobile gadget. There are also models that support QWERTY keyboard and wireless computer mouse. These accessories will come in handy when working with social networks or an Internet browser through a TV screen. For convenience, you can use a universal remote control that allows you to control both the set-top box and the TV at the same time.

Sources and carriers of content (support for Internet services)

The set-top box can play media content from various media.

1. Built-in HDD. In this case, the size of the media will be important. A plus built-in hard drive- All multimedia content is stored in one place and is available at any time.
2. A portable storage device (USB flash drive, external hard drive) connected via a USB connector.
3. Memory cards for cameras, camcorders, mobile gadgets. Their connection is made either through a built-in or external card reader, or through a cable.
4. Hard disks of devices connected to Wi-Fi (if there is a wireless connection).
5. Online services such as You Tube, IVI, Google Video, Apple Trailers, Meta Cafe, etc. (if connected to the Internet).

The capabilities of media players are constantly expanding. Modern models allow you to read letters that came to your e-mail, play online games, find out news and weather forecasts, watch new films that have just appeared in wide distribution, etc.

Media Player Zappiti Player 4K

Additional functionality

More advanced devices provide users with more options. Therefore, if the purpose of the purchase is to make a Smart TV out of your Samsung or LG TV, it is better to give preference to set-top boxes with:

• opportunity home network connection(via wireless connection or Ethernet cable);
• Internet access to be able to use popular online services, social networks, IPTV;
• modern operating system to be able to update it and install additional software.

The choice and purchase of a media player, even for modern TV models, will be very helpful. Especially for those users who appreciate high-quality picture and multi-channel sound. In addition, such a device is capable of turning a simple TV into a Smart, and in models with such a function already built-in, it can significantly expand its capabilities. After all, even an expensive home theater may not have all the necessary functionality, and a properly selected multimedia TV set-top box can solve these problems.

Recently, the TV has turned from a simple "box" for watching analogue TV programs into a high-tech device, which, in terms of its functionality, may well be compared to a computer. Modern models can be incorporated into a home LAN. Some people use them to surf the net, chat with friends on Skype, and play games. Of course, the "hardware" of the TV will not be able to handle powerful 3D-shooters, but you are leaving Angry Birds for sure.

But here's the catch: only SmartTVs have all of the above functionality, the price of which often exceeds the cost of an ordinary TV and a powerful computer combined. Of course, many consumers have very serious doubts about the need for such a purchase. It is correct, since a media player for a TV will turn an old LCD model into a good analogue of a “smart”, and for all the pleasures you are unlikely to pay more than five to six thousand rubles.

What it is?

It would be foolish to continue talking about such devices without making a digression and not describing the concept itself in a little more detail. So what is a TV media player?

If you are a user of gadgets on the Android mobile OS, then you can imagine a kind of mini-computer under its control. Ever heard of the Raspberry Pi? So, the media player is the same "Blackberry" based on an ARM processor. Unlike the aforementioned mini-computers, it already has a proprietary shell from the manufacturer, usually based on "Android" with the addition of some specific services and programs.

Roughly speaking, this is such a miniature for which your TV acts as a monitor.

Advantages

In principle, you can easily guess about the positive aspects of this kind of technique yourself. Having bought a media player for your TV for only four to five thousand rubles, you will even make a modern entertainment center out of outdated technology.

Considering the speed of development of "Android", you do not have to worry about the absence of any applications: players for video and audio files, browsers, programs for We have already said that there is even Skype! Of course, in this case, you will need to purchase an additional webcam, but it is also not very expensive.

In addition, portable devices can be connected to such devices with the ability to run torrent clients, which makes any media player for TV a real treasure for connoisseurs of watching movies.

Easy setup and security

If you somehow follow the news of IT technologies, then you have probably heard about the scandal that erupted around LG's SmartTV. Recall that then users caught an overly clever technique in espionage. Not only was it very difficult to refuse targeted advertising in the settings (the option was hidden far away), but also after the corresponding check-box was removed, user information continued to be sent to the company's servers.

Of course, the Android OS is far from perfect in this regard. Currently, there are hundreds of thousands of malicious programs for it that can pose a threat to your personal data. But there are also important differences.

Firstly, there are many effective anti-virus programs for Android. Secondly, if you have not so deep knowledge of the topic, stationary media players can install not only another firmware, but even a new operating system! In any case, the network contains instructions for installing special ARM-assemblies of Debian and Ubunu without any problems.

As you can understand, not a single such fundamental feature is provided in SmartTV. Moreover, even with updating its firmware, problems may arise, since not everyone has a normal wired Internet, and such a technique is simply not able to recognize a USB modem.

Where can the content be played from?

Unlike Smart TV or any other, it will easily "pick up" a movie or a musical composition from a home local network, from an external hard drive or NAS server, the popularity of which is insanely high at the present time. Some of them have a built-in hard drive to which you can upload music and videos, and nobody canceled playback from a flash drive.

Keep in mind that a portable media player with a stock of movies will fit into your pocket, becoming a faithful and indispensable companion on a business trip or travel.

LAN settings

Unlike the aforementioned “smart TVs”, you are unlikely to encounter problems. The most commonly used Wi-Fi network. As a rule, the device immediately "clings" to the home wireless network, requiring only the password to enter.

If you need to connect a gadget via a wired connection, there can be more difficulties. So, you will probably need to enter the IP address of the set-top box itself, and other attributes. When setting up a digital media player, you will have to contact the manufacturer and study the procedure for setting up connected devices on its website.

Formats and other "goodies"

As for the number of supported photos and videos, then in this case these devices are beyond any competition. In addition, the media player will be indispensable for those who have an HD camcorder at home. Why? Judge for yourself:

• Burn to disc? Expensive, boring, and the optical drives themselves are gradually becoming a thing of the past.
• It is simply inconvenient to watch from the small display of the camera itself.
• Of course, you can use a computer monitor for the same purposes, but professional videos will look much more colorful on a widescreen TV.
• In the end, you can connect a system unit or laptop to a TV, but not everyone can handle the settings.

Media players are different ...

In order to choose the best media player, it is highly advisable to follow some of the guidelines below. First, the appearance and dimensions of the device should be in harmony with the appearance of all your equipment. It may sound absurd, but if the gadget stands out from the background of your plasma panel, it will be conspicuous even when watching a movie.

However, the technical characteristics of the player are much more important, which must include the following parameters:

• The more formats supported, the better. MKV codec is required in their list. The ideal for imitation is the "classic" software media player.
• It is highly desirable to use only the highest performing chips (like Sigma Designs 8634/8642).
• It would be nice if the player supports playing Blu-ray disc images.
• If you're a beginner, you should be interested in the option to automatically scan your home network for public folders.
• Is it possible to watch IPTV? It is perfectly!
• For those newbies, it will be much better if the technician adjusts the display mode on the TV screen himself.
• In the case when the buyer considers himself to be a connoisseur of music, it is highly desirable to have HD-audio (DD TrueHD / Master Audio) decoders.

Some disadvantages

Of course, nothing is perfect in the world. Media players are no exception. What are the disadvantages of the technology we are considering? How serious are they and how much they interfere with watching movies and listening to music?

To begin with, the Android platform is of little use without a stable and fast Internet. Of course, you can try to watch the movie on the device you just bought, but no one can guarantee that there will be the necessary codec or a sufficiently "omnivorous" player.

Everything needs to be uploaded from the network, so proud owners of a GPRS / EDGE channel cannot be envied in this situation. In their case, nevertheless, the best solution would be to connect a laptop or computer to a TV, since they will probably be able to cope with setting up the image output, but they are unlikely to do without a normal Internet. In a word, a network media player that is completely dependent on the availability of an Internet connection is definitely not suitable for us.

The convenience of use

If possible, be sure to turn on the device while still in the store, try to cope with its control. There are often times when the media player itself is quite good, but its menu and navigation are so terrible that it is impossible to use the device normally.

To the same point is the size and ergonomics of the remote control. Today, on the shelves, you can find a lot of such devices, in which the remotes are more like a horseshoe for a flea in size. It is not known what the designers are guided by, but in the dark you definitely do not get to the right button.

Avoid remotes that have only a couple of buttons: they look nice, but it's much more convenient to launch many functions with a single press, rather than spinning through several menus. If there is such an opportunity, it is worth purchasing a universal control device that includes the functions of a mouse and keyboard.

Please note that the keyboard, mouse and webcam will have to be purchased separately in most cases. The cost of specialized devices (a special camera for the player) is often much higher than that of their conventional counterparts.

Don't forget about the platform as well. ARM processors are not very powerful devices, so movies in maximum resolution can slow down noticeably. However, this statement is not true for all devices: almost any Sony media player is almost certainly devoid of this drawback.

What are media players? Why are they needed at all? What they can do, how to use them and what makes them MORE CONVENIENT and BETTER than anything else (BluRay, DVD, CD). - read about it further. Media Player is a video, music and photo album (photo) player.

The media player plays files that contain videos, music, or photos. The better the player, the more different file formats it supports. Using the best models, you can completely forget about the word “format”: just select and start movies, music, photo albums using standard buttons on the remote control - just like on the old familiar BluRay, DVD, and CD players.

Why do you need a media player?

Because it is much MUCHER than anything else that came before it - CD players, DVD players and BluRay players.

What exactly is more convenient? Here's what:

1) It is much easier, faster and cheaper to replenish your media collection - a library of films, music and digital photos.
2) Cataloging and searching for works of the media collection is becoming much more convenient. One or two HDDs with files are much more compact than racks and shelves. Finding and running the required file is much easier and faster than going through a disk archive for a long time. In addition, you can organize information according to any principle that is convenient for you.
3) Storing information in the form of files is more reliable than on discs (BluRay / DVD / CD).
4) Compared to similarly launching files on a computer, using the media player is much more comfortable! You use it like a traditional turntable - sitting on the couch in front of a large TV. Agree, SO movies are simply MORE HABITABLE AND MORE CONVENIENT to watch than at a desk in front of a small monitor, holding a mouse, or than watching from a computer on a large TV, each time going to the keyboard with a mouse to control.

In addition, the player compared to the computer:

• quiet,
• more compact,
• has fewer wires,
• turns on faster,
• easily controlled by only one push-button remote control,
• hangs less often,
• has a friendly interface like a familiar player, and not like a computer - both a small child and an elderly person who grew up in the pre-computer era can easily learn to use it.

How to use the media player

It depends on the class (capabilities) of the media player you are using. Of all the multitude that is now on the market, we can conditionally distinguish four classes of media players.

1) Players with a USB port, no hard disk drive (HDD), no LAN connection (no network port).

This is the class of the simplest and most inexpensive models. At the same time, they can work perfectly at the level for which they are intended.

Usage

The player is connected to the TV, media files are written to a USB flash drive (or USB disk), which is then inserted into the USB port on the player. We take the player's remote control, find the necessary files on the flash drive, launch it. We look, listen - that's actually all! Simple and convenient. This category of models includes the Jacktop Mini player.

2) Players with the ability to embed a hard disk (HDD), without connecting to a local network (without a network port).

These models are slightly more expensive than previous diskless models. They are convenient in that files can be recorded and stored on the built-in HDD. If the capacity of the HDD allows, you can copy your entire old DVD collection, all music / movies / photos from your computer to it and use only the player. A DVD player with disc racks can be sent straight to the country house: where there is a media player, you will no longer need all this!

Usage

To record movies / music / photo albums on the HDD player, just connect the player to the computer like a regular external USB drive and overwrite the necessary files. Then the player can be connected to TV - watch movies, listen to music, flip through photo albums.

In addition, these players, like the previous class of players, are equipped with an external USB port for connecting external USB hard drives and flash drives from which the players can play files. Many models have a background music function, that is, when viewing photos can be accompanied by music. The most advanced models of this class can perform operations with folders and files as on a computer - copy, move, delete, rename, create new folders - and all this is easy with the help of one remote control.

Note

These players (described in points 1 and 2) can play both SD video (cheap models) and SD and HD video (more expensive models). However, almost all new SD models are equipped with an HDMI output, and are capable of providing HD signal via component and HDMI outputs, upscaling the SD picture to HD.

All media players of the following two classes (points 3 and 4) - support real (720p, 1080i / p) HD video.

3) Players with the ability to connect to a local network (network port), but without Internet access - both disk and diskless models.

The advantage of these players is that in addition to everything that the models of the two previous classes can, they can connect to a local network and play files from all available network sources - computers, network disk drives (NAS, Network Access Storage), other network players ( which has a built-in HDD).

Usage

The player is connected with a network cable to a router (network router), video-audio outputs - to a TV. Next, you need to go to the player's setup (setup) in the network settings section and set the parameters corresponding to your local network. In most cases, the factory settings allow the player to automatically enter the network immediately upon turning on. Further, those disks / folders on computers and network storage devices (NAS), where the media files we need are located, need to be assigned a shared network access so that they are "visible" from any other network device, for example, from a media player. After that, the media player will "see" all network drives / folders and will be able to play the files recorded in them, and not only files from its local HDD or USB-drives. The clear advantages of such a connection are that, firstly, the player has access to many more places where files are located, and, secondly, it is not necessary to copy files to the player (or connect external USB devices to it) - the entire media collection can be stored distributed on several network devices (or on one large network server). For example, if there are several rooms in an apartment or cottage, each of which is equipped with a TV and an audio system, it is enough to have only ONE network media server, where all films, TV programs (recorded by the TV receiver), music and a collection of photos will be stored. In each room, you can use your own network media player and watch something of your own - from the server over the network, without the need to first copy files.

4) Players with the ability to connect to a local network (network port), Internet access and the ability to remotely control (from a remote computer) - both disk and diskless.

This is the most advanced category of media players. They have many options for use, depending on the wishes of the user, the technology available to him and (often) the degree of familiarity with the topics "media players / computers / computer networks / Internet", since a number of initial settings still presuppose some immersion in computer topics. But after the settings are made, the player can be used by anyone, regardless of the amount of knowledge and age. Media players Dr.HD MX80, XF100, XS50 belong to this class of devices. What such players can (in the most general terms):

• play files of almost any format (naturally heavy HD video files of tens of gigabytes);
• play files - from the internal HDD (if any), from external USB sources (disks, flash drives), from external eSATA drives (some models), network drives (within the same local network), from remote Web servers (via the Internet );
• download files (movies, music, photos) from the Internet (via the BitTorrent protocol);
• play TV channels IPTV and Internet TV;
• play the contents of popular Web-media resources (YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, Yahoo Weather, etc. up to viewing e-mail boxes);
• perform operations with files (copy, move, delete, etc.);
• have the ability to remotely control (over the network and via the Internet): manage settings, play files (select a file, remotely start, stop playback), turn on / off, download new files from the Internet, etc.;
• make it possible to install new software, including alternative, significantly expanding the range of player capabilities.

If there are several rooms (not necessarily located nearby), each of which is equipped with a TV with a media player and Internet access, then you can both autonomously run the media player in each room, and manage the entire system of media players from one computer. This computer can be either in the same local network with the players, or remotely and connect to each player via the Internet (see the figure below). Even a pocket communicator, such as an iPhone, is suitable as a computer. The players themselves can be either in the same local network or outside of a separate network.

From a remote computer, you can run files on each player, stop playback, change settings, turn on / off the player, etc. For example, you have a player at home (it is turned on and connected to the Internet), you are a guest, and your friends also there is a similar player (also with Internet access). You want to watch a movie or photo album, or listen to music recorded in your home. What is needed for this? Just connect to your home player and run files from it as from a remote Web resource. In this way, you can easily exchange files with other owners of players, while not overwriting files - just keep the players online (and know their IP addresses, of course).

How can you add content to your home media library? Here are some of the fastest, easiest, and most common methods.

1) Many ISPs have one or more FTP servers where thousands of video and music files are recorded. It is enough to download everything that the computer needs and dump it to the player's disk (if the player has a built-in disk), or to a network folder on the computer, or to a separate network drive. Such downloading is free, traffic within the provider's network is usually not charged.

2) Go to any of the Torrent trackers and just download what you are interested in. And it's completely free! Torrent tracker- Web-portal, which contains an extensive catalog of films / music / photos / software / games / etc., from where special<* .torren t> files, which, in turn, when they are opened by the program torrent client, allow you to easily and quickly download the necessary media files - movies / music / photos / games / software / etc. Popular torrent trackers contain a truly huge database - you can find and download almost any movie (from Hollywood novelties to classics and "art Hausa ") or music. The most popular torrent trackers are thepiratebay.org, torrents.ru, tfile.ru, nnm-club.me, rutor.org, etc.

The most advanced players (the category described in point 4) usually have a built-in torrent client. You can run<*.torrent>file directly on the player, and the player will start downloading on its own, without the help of a computer (of course, the player must be connected to a working router, and the router to the Internet).

3) Go to any movie or music Web-resource offering a download service (free or paid); files on such resources are often stored on the well-known rapidshare.com file storage (or similar ones) - from there you download them from the links indicated on the resource pages. If the download is paid, you are offered to pay via SMS. The amounts are usually funny.

The colossal convenience of media players, their capabilities and flexibility of settings are worthy of several separate articles. Short use of such a device is enough to understand that DVD and BluRay players are far from yesterday, if not the day before yesterday, and by and large they are not needed. What you REALLY NEED to have at home is the following:

• HD TV (display, projector) + separate audio system (stereo or 5.1);
• local network connected by a router with Internet access;
• at least one computer connected to the local network (for recording new media files);
• network disk drive (NAS) for storing the entire collection of media files (the role of a NAS can be played by the same computer or another computer);
• media player (disk or diskless); if it has the function of connecting to a local network, then there are much more possibilities;
• if you watch TV, then you will also need a PVR receiver (satellite, cable or terrestrial, depending on which channels you want to watch), preferably connected to a local network.

On the media player you watch movies and photos, listen to music, watch IPTV and Internet TV channels, YouTube videos, etc. collection of files.

And this is, in principle, a complete (well, or almost complete) list of what is needed for complete happiness. If you feel sorry for throwing away BluRay and DVD players, you can connect them to the additional inputs of your TV and audio system and sometimes watch / listen to discs in the old fashioned way.